The Political Accountability Act

Make government accountable to voters, not special interests

Limit political contributions and expenditures

• Restrict amount individuals or Political Action Committees (PAC’s) can contribute to legislative and statewide candidates
• Place voluntary restrictions on the use of personal funds for political purposes by candidates for legislative and statewide office
• Place voluntary restrictions on independent expenditures in legislative and statewide campaigns
• Place voluntary restrictions on total campaign spending by legislative and statewide candidates
• Enforce voluntary limits by providing that if a candidate or independent committee exceeds the voluntary limits, then the candidate against whom the voluntary limit is exceeded is released from all limits - including contribution limits
• Keep corporate money out of the political system

Create an independent commission for redistricting

• Limit redistricting to once a decade following the decennial census
• Specify in statute the allowable criteria for the Commission to consider in drawing district boundaries

Protect prosecutors who expose political corruption from retaliation by politicians

• Ensure the independence and viability of the Office of Public Integrity in the Texas Constitution

Require law firms that employ legislators to disclose the firm’s lobbyists and clients

• Enable the public to evaluate possible conflicts of interest between a legislator’s public responsibilities and private employment

Require record votes at all critical stages of the legislative process

• Increase the transparency and accountability of the political system - Texas is one of fewer than 10 states that currently do not record all key votes

End the automatic granting of continuances for lawyer/legislators

• Enable judicial discretion to prevent abuse of the system by litigants seeking delays and legislators seeking unearned personal income

Prohibit public servants from transferring their responsibilities to private interests

• Legislators serving in their official capacities would not be allowed to designate a lobbyist for a special interest to cast their “proxy” votes